Lecture 13: The Sixties Part 2

Chapter 8: Lyndon Baines Johnson's Presidency

• Became president after John F. Kennedy's assassination.

• Seen as a continuation of Kennedy’s vision for America.

Chapter 9: Civil Rights Efforts

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Outlawed discrimination based on race in hiring practices.

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Established to enforce this law.

• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Aimed to eliminate barriers preventing black Americans from voting, closing loopholes used by Southern states.

• Johnson's Vision of the Great Society

  • Aimed at eliminating poverty, particularly in rural areas.

  • War on Poverty: A major initiative to provide relief for those suffering in the U.S.

  • Key components:

  • Economic Opportunity Act: Provided funding for poverty alleviation programs.

  • Project Head Start: Early education program for low-income families.

  • Established the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address low-income housing and homelessness issues.

Chapter 10: The Warren Court

• Led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, appointed by Eisenhower, significant for its liberal and lasting rulings.

• Gideon v. Wainwright: Established the right to an attorney in felony cases.

• Miranda v. Arizona: Required suspects to be informed of their rights upon arrest, including the right to remain silent and to an attorney.

Chapter 11: Social Movements and Activism

• Growing discontent with 1950s materialism and societal norms.

• Women, youth, and marginalized groups began advocating for their rights.

• Students for a Democratic Society (SDS): Formed in 1962, promoted issues like poverty alleviation, anti-racism, and ending the Cold War.

• Notable protests:

• UC Berkeley Free Speech Movement (1964) against Vietnam War, nuclear power, and the draft.

Chapter 12: Counterculture Movement

• Resisted traditional values and societal norms.

• Hippies: Advocated a non-materialistic lifestyle characterized by free love, communal living, and drug use.

Chapter 13: Women’s Rights Movement

• Reaction against the limited roles of women in the 1950s.

• Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique (1963): Addressed the dissatisfaction of housewives, coining the term “the problem that has no name.”

• Formation of groups like the National Organization for Women (NOW): Advocated for women's rights and choices, including reproductive rights.

• Roe v. Wade: Supreme Court case legalizing abortion, a significant victory for women's rights, though contentious among conservatives.

• LGBT Rights Movement

  • Stonewall Uprising (1969): A response to police raids on gay establishments; sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

  • June celebrations of pride parades commemorate the anniversary of these riots.

• Cultural and Political Shifts

  • The 1960s marked significant shifts in social and political landscapes.

• Question remains whether these changes represent a permanent shift in American society or a temporary anomaly.

  Summary

  Lyndon Baines Johnson's presidency represented a continuation of John F. Kennedy's vision, particularly in civil rights and social reform. Key legislations like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 sought to dismantle systemic discrimination and barriers for African Americans. Johnson's Great Society aimed to eradicate poverty through initiatives like the Economic Opportunity Act and Project Head Start. The Warren Court, under Chief Justice Earl Warren, made landmark rulings that expanded individual rights. Social movements emerged in response to materialism and injustice, with groups advocating for civil rights, women's rights, and LGBTQ equality, marking significant cultural and political shifts in America during the 1960s. The decade was defined by activism and a struggle for rights, prompting reflections on the permanence of these societal changes.